The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 15 Chilling
She had never been raised in this way since childhood, and indeed had many willful moments. Qingwan is deeply grateful for the Emperor and Empress's tolerance over the years, and she will definitely correct any mistakes she made in the future.

The original owner's father and mother were very loving, even though they lived in an era of polygamy.

The original owner's father only had the original owner's mother in his entire life and never took a concubine.

The original owner had lived in such a home since childhood.

After marrying Emperor Yuanwu, she thought her life would be like her mother's, where she wished to find one person to love and stay with until old age.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Yuanwu had a large harem with numerous concubines.

The original owner's outburst was largely due to Emperor Yuanwu shattering her expectations of married life, as she had been pampered and spoiled since childhood.

Unlike her maternal family, the Prince's mansion was not a place where everyone catered to her, which made her feel a great sense of loss.

After the wedding, she not only failed to receive affection, but also suffered a lot of humiliation.

"I am very pleased that the Empress thinks this way." Emperor Yuanwu was somewhat at a loss for words.

"Has Your Majesty ever considered that even if our marriage was the Empress Dowager's wish, on our wedding night you didn't even lift my veil and went straight to Consort Xian's room? How am I supposed to face the Prince's residence after that? Later, when it was time for my return visit, Your Majesty made an excuse that you were busy with official duties and couldn't get away, so you just gave me some things to take back to my mother's home by myself. Did you ever think about my situation?"

Speaking of which.

Emperor Yuanwu lowered his eyes with some shame.

Shen Qingwan was naive back then, and wasn't I just as young?

After being forced by the Empress Dowager to marry Shen Qingwan, he also caused her a lot of embarrassment.

This was perhaps the biggest trigger that caused the original owner to keep causing trouble in the mansion.

What puzzled him even more was that he was able to listen quietly as Shen Qingwan brought up old grievances.

Instead of being angry, she felt a little guilty.

"Now that we've talked things out today, I will take good care of my mother and do what a daughter-in-law should do. I won't make trouble for you anymore."

As for the power in the harem, if Consort Xian likes to manage it, let her manage it. But if there are things like what happened today, such as mistreating the concubines or harming the imperial heirs, I will still intervene.

I cannot stand by and watch innocent people be wronged, nor can I stand by and watch someone be bullied for no reason, nor can I stand by and watch someone abuse their power to bully others.

I also urge Your Majesty to trust me and not to condemn me first whenever something happens; it's disheartening.

Emperor Yuanwu:...

Emperor Yuanwu swallowed hard, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.

At this moment, he didn't dare to look Shen Qingwan in the eye.

"of course."

Shen Qingwan is now truly eloquent; every sentence she utters is reasonable and hits the nail on the head.

She used to yell and shout, and he never seemed to listen to her seriously.

Moreover, things like this now.

There was no such thing as the two of them sitting face to face and having a heart-to-heart talk.

Although Emperor Yuanwu was reprimanded, he actually felt that what she said made sense and was well-founded.

Especially the phrase "holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords".

It was as if it had awakened a certain nerve in him.

He reflected that he had indeed been too indulgent towards Consort Xian at times. Even though he knew she had made a mistake, he still couldn't resist her coquettishness and sweet talk.

Shen Qingwan is right. If we continue to indulge her like this, it will definitely lead to disaster in the future.

If no new prince is born in the harem, then the position of crown prince will only be held by the eldest prince and the third prince.

Speaking of the princes...

Shen Qingwan suddenly remembered something.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing. When I returned from Xianfu Palace today, I ran into the First Prince."

When Shen Qingwan said this, Zhen'er's breath hitched, and even Su Jixiang, who had been by Emperor Yuanwu's side since childhood, gasped.

Has the Empress gone mad today?

She reprimanded the Emperor a few times. Even if the Emperor didn't blame her, she couldn't dare to mention the First Prince.

If the Emperor really gets angry later...

Let alone the Empress.

Even the entire Kunning Palace will be in deep trouble.

Since Consort Li left, the eldest prince has become a taboo subject for the emperor.

On one occasion, a eunuch casually mentioned Consort Li.

Emperor Yuanwu was furious and ordered the eunuch to be severely beaten with thirty strokes of the cane and sent directly to the Imperial Prison.

Su Jixiang couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Shen Qingwan.

"This isn't the first time I've seen the First Prince catching fish in the Imperial Garden during the day. At this hour, he should be reading in the Imperial Study."

Although I don't know why the eldest prince frequently catches fish in the Imperial Garden during the day, I doubt anyone would dare to mention it to you unless the Emperor himself intervened.

I meant no other than to see a perfectly good child wasting his time that should be spent studying on fishing, becoming a useless talent day after day, month after month. As for whether or not to intervene, that is up to Your Majesty.”

The moment Shen Qingwan finished speaking, Wu Jixiang and Zhen'er were both ready to kneel down.

But I didn't expect it.

Emperor Yuanwu actually nodded and hummed in agreement.

This is unprecedented!

The Empress has gone mad!
Has the Emperor gone mad?
I don't understand how these two got together and talked for so long.

They only knew that Emperor Yuanwu, who was always self-centered and never listened to anyone's advice, actually listened quietly to the empress saying so many things that criticized him.

She didn't even get angry when she mentioned the eldest prince.

Not only was she not angry, but it seemed as if she was even trying to control the eldest prince?
Shen Qingwan felt that she had said enough.

She has already stepped on Emperor Yuanwu's landmines once.

I'm afraid if I keep talking, things will really explode.

Shen Qingwan smiled and said, "Would Your Majesty like to stay for dinner tonight? I'll have someone make the arrangements."

Emperor Yuanwu remained in a daze for a long time.

Su Jixiang hurriedly spoke up to remind him.

"Your Majesty, Prince Rui has returned from the Empress Dowager's residence and is currently waiting in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for you to dine together."

Emperor Yuanwu stood up: "I have other matters to attend to today, I will dine with the Empress another day."

Shen Qingwan curtsied and said, "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty."

Jingyang Palace.

Consort Xian tapped the teacup in her hand with one hand.

"How is things at Kunning Palace? Has the Emperor left? What did he say? Did the Empress and the Emperor have another big fight, like before?"

At this point, Consort Xian curled her lips in disdain.

Xiang'er replied solemnly, "Your Majesty, the Kunning Palace is tight-lipped, and we can't find out anything. However, it seems that the Empress didn't cause any trouble. The Emperor stayed in the Kunning Palace for a while before returning to the Yangxin Hall."

"No trouble?" Consort Xian paused, her fingers trembling with doubt.

"How did the Emperor look when he came out? Was he very angry?"

"It seems... there isn't." Xiang'er looked troubled, unsure how to reply.

"No commotion? The Emperor wasn't angry either. Why did the Emperor leave Kunning Palace at this hour? Didn't the Empress invite the Emperor to have dinner in her palace?" Consort Xian was even more confused.

Just now when she went to see Emperor Yuanwu.

Emperor Yuanwu clearly said he would help her get an explanation, so why did he leave Kunning Palace without doing anything?

(End of this chapter)